Every time you talk to your grandparents or that one neighbor who has been living in the same house since 1968, you’re bound to hear about how "things used to be better."

And while old-timers are mostly just complaining—as is their divine right after surviving decades of Michigan winters—sometimes they actually have a point. Somewhere along the line, we traded simple, fun traditions for doomscrolling and endless screen time.

Here is our definitive list of old-school social trends that need to make a massive comeback in the Great Lakes State.

1. Gathering Around the Radio

Before everybody had their faces glued to a screen 24/7, families actually gathered around the radio for news, music, and entertainment.

And look, I’m not just saying this because I work in radio and want to afford a brand-new sports car with enhanced acceleration and a power-retractable roof panel. It’s just facts.

Gathering around the radio is a lost art. In Michigan, radio is still the heartbeat of the daily commute—it keeps you sane while you’re stuck in a 45-minute standstill on I-75 or dodging potholes on your way to work. Plus, radio has one huge advantage over streaming apps: you don't have to waste 20 minutes arguing about what to play. You just turn the dial, get your country hits, catch the local news, and let someone else do the work.

2. Flying Kites

When was the last time you saw someone flying a kite? It’s a safer way to see bright colors flowing through the air than taking magic mushrooms, and it’s dirt cheap.

Michigan is practically custom-built for kite flying. We’ve got constant Great Lakes breeze, massive open parks, and beautiful shorelines. You just grab a piece of fabric on a string, run around like a lunatic for ten minutes, and watch it catch the wind. No Wi-Fi required, no battery charging, and zero monthly subscriptions. Just keep it away from the power lines—we’re trying to bring back wholesome nostalgia, not cause a blackout for Consumers Energy.

3. Writing Victorian-Era Letters

Modern digital communication has completely ruined romance and basic politeness.

Compare these two options:

• Option A (Modern Text): "U up?"

• Option B (Victorian Note): "M'Lady: Dost thou wish to venture to the local cider mill for warm cinnamon sugar donuts and a goblet of pressed apple nectar?"

Option B wins every single time. Imagine opening your mailbox and finding a real, handwritten letter on parchment instead of another jury summons or an overdue utility bill. Bring back wax seals, fancy cursive, and poetic drama.

4. Taking Pictures with Actual Cameras

Remember disposable cameras and Polaroids? You took a picture, had no idea if anyone’s eyes were closed, and had to wait a week for the pharmacy to develop them. Half the roll was blurry, and one photo was just a close-up of your thumb, but those physical prints actually meant something.

Nowadays, people go to concerts at the Dow Event Center or Pine Knob and spend the entire night holding their phones high in the air, recording a blurry 30-second clip nobody will ever watch again. If we went back to actual cameras, people might actually watch the stage with their own eyes instead of viewing the show through a six-inch screen.

5. Waking Up to a Real Double-Belled Alarm Clock

Smartphone alarms are far too forgiving. It is way too easy to groggily swipe your thumb across an iPhone screen, hit snooze six times, and suddenly realize you’re 45 minutes late for work.

We need to bring back the classic, dual-bell metal monstrosity. That thing didn't politely chime with a soothing nature sound. It hit you with a CLANG-CLANG-CLANG that sounded like a mechanical emergency at a manufacturing plant. It didn’t care about your feelings or how cold your bedroom was on a 10-degree January morning in Mid-Michigan—it DEMANDED that you get out of bed immediately.

Honorably Discharged: Drinking at Work

The original list also suggested bringing back liquid lunches and drinking alcohol at work.

Yeah... let's leave that one in the 1960s. Driving through Michigan roundabouts, construction zones, and winter slush requires 100% of your mental focus. We’ll stick to the radio, kites, polaroids, and Victorian letters!